Tips on ticks!

​Spring is around the corner, so keep your pet safe from ticks and tick-borne illnesses!

Our dogs and outdoor cats are also exposed to plenty of pesky parasites, such as ticks and the diseases they carry. The are 3 main type of ticks in Burlington, MA: Deer Ticks, an estimated 50-70% of whom carry Lyme disease causing bacteria. Dog Ticks and Lone Star Ticks.

At CSAH we  strongly recommend using tick preventatives such as Simparica Trio.  Some clients double-up with a chewable preventative and a repellent collar like the Soresto Collar. Talk to our veterinarian to determine the best product for your pet given their health history, potential exposure to ticks and lifestyle. Use your preventative all year long! Frost and freezing temps DO NOT kill ticks. Ticks are dormant but come back to life in only 40 degrees - a high often achieved even in the coldest months.

After a walk, the American Kennel Association recommends checking for ticks on your pet. Don't forget to look inside ears and between toes, just to make sure your pet didn’t bring any ticks home  with them.

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What Do I Do If I Find a Tick on My Dog?  

If you find a tick on your dog, remove it as soon as possible! If it hasn’t attached itself yet, there is no risk of tick-borne illness for your pet. If it has attached, grasp the tick with a pair of tweezers as close to the site of attachment as you can and pull straight back.
If you have found an attached tick, particularly one that is engorged, the MSPCA advises noting the date and time to discuss with your veterinarian.
Continue watching for the following symptoms*:

• New joint pain, which may manifest as reluctance to stand or lie down
• Crying painfully
• Walking gingerly or limping, especially on more than one limb or on a different limb from one day to the next
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite

NOTE: Symptoms of a tick borne illness may not appear until several weeks or even months after exposure. If you observe any abnormal symptom following a tick bite, contact us immediately to make an appointment.
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